Adjustable electric sign frame



July 5, 1932 J. P. DUNNE ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC SIGN FRAME Filed April 22,1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l Inventor July 5, 1932. J. P. DUNNE ADJUSTABLEELECTRIC SIGN FRAME Filed April 22, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. ,5 :1 a.l0- ./0 I000 Dww 7 a ,I //J 0 mum M H 7 7 Invenlor r772 Jaw/1e,

' A llomey Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES I.DUNNE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK ADJUSTABLE ELECTRIC SIGN FRAME Applicationfiled April 22,

its method of assembly, strong, compact and durable, thoroughly reliablefor its intended purpose, and very simple to manufacture and assemble.

With the foregoing and other objects in,

struction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinaftermore specifically described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein is disclosed an embodiment' of the invention, but itis to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the claims heretoappended. In the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a sign in accordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical section taken substantially on the line 22of Fig. 1, and looking in thedirection of the arrows,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the panel frame without the panel andshowing in dotted lines :how the frame may be extended,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top or bottom'rail,

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the top or bottom cover strips,

7 Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the arrangement of the railswhen the sign is extended,

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the hanger strips,

v Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the center straps used when theframe is extended,

Fig. 9 is a section on line 99 of Figure 6,

Fig. 10 is a section on line 1010 of Figure 6.

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shownthepreferred embodiment of my invention 8 indicates a horizontal supportingarm which may be attached at its inner end to a building. Additionalreinforcing cables 9 are attached to the arm 8 and 1930. Serial No.446,327.

their inner ends may be attached to a building which supports the arm.These cables 9 extend diagonally and downwardly from the building to thetop of the arm and provide vertical supports for the arm.

A reflector hood is indicatedgenera-lly at 10 and consists of asubstantially rectangular, open bottom casing 11 having the ends thereof secured to an intermediate portion of the hanger straps 12,13. Theupper ends of the straps are bolted as at 14 to extensions 15 on theclamps 16 to which the cables 9 are anchored. The clamps 16 are disposedabout the supporting arm 8.

The interior of the hood 10 is divided by a pair of spacedlongitudinally extending partitions 17, 18 that. incline downwardly andinwardly from the top wall 19 of the hood and merge at their lower endsin an integral channel 20.

To the outer face of each partition 17, 18, are secured electric lightbulbs 21, 22. Thus, it will be seen that light will be reflected fromthe interior of the hood to the sign panel for illuminating purposes.There will be described hereinafter, one of the sign units having aframe indicated generally at 23. The frame 23 in the form shown, issubstantially rectangular in configuration. The frame 23 includes atoprail 24: and a bottom rail 25, each of which is formed of metal ofangular cross section.

The legs of the angles of the top and bottom rails are disposedvertically and hori zontally with the angles of each rail confrontingeach other other to form a pocket to receive the panel 26. V

The frame 28 further includes end rails 27, 28 which are also angular incross section with the angles thereof confronting each other to supportthe panel 26 therebetween. The ends of the side rails 27, 28 abut theinside edges of the top and bottom rails, as will be clearly understoodby referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings. v I

The rails of the frame 23 are secured together at the corners by meansof corner straps 29 which are formed of flat straps of metal bent to aright angle. The ends of the corner straps 29 are bolted as at 30 and 31to the outer faces of the upstanding legs of the respective rails.

The lower ends of the hanger straps 12, 13 are secured to the verticallegs of the corner straps 29, at the upper corners of the frame forsupporting the frame within the channel 20. The solid, opaque sign panel26 conformably fits within the angles of the rails.

After the panel 26 is inserted in the rails of the frame, four flatstrips 32 are secured by means of bolts or rivets 33 to the top andbottom rails and side rails of the frame 23 in a manner to secure thepanel 26 in position therein.

Referring to Figures 6, 9 and 10 of the drawings, where the constructionis shown for extending the frame 23, the lower corner straps 29 areentirely eliminated from the lower ends of the side rails 27, 28. Tomake the extension, the bottom rail 25 is reversed 180 from that shownin Fig. 3 whereby the angle of this bottom rail is outwardly directed.The ends of this reversed bottom rail 25 are secured to the lower endsof the side rails as at 34. Thereafter, an additional side rail 35 ofany desired length is added to each side of the frame so that the upperends thereof will abut the end portions of the bottom rail 25. Then thelower end portions of the side rails 27, and 28 and the upper endportions of the extension side rails 35 are bolted or riveted as at 36to a flat strap of metal 37 as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

To the lower ends of the extension side rails 35 is secured a bottomrail (not shown) which is similar in all respects to the bottom rail 25as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and the corners thereof are securedtogether by an angular fiat corner strap similar in all respects to thestrap 29 whereby a continuous polygonal frame is constructed with easeand dispatch.

The extension side rails 35 are angular in cross section with the anglesconfronting each other similar in all respects to the side rails 27, 28that have been extended thereby.

When a second panel 26 is used the bottom strip 32 of the upper or firstpanel need not be used as the bottom edge of the panel 26 will be heldin place by the flanges of the end members 27 and 28 and the verticalflange of the turned member 25 as shown in Figure 9. These strips 32must be used to hold the lower panel 26 in place as shown in Figures 9and 10.

In the application of the invention, the

hood is reflected on the sign for displaying advertisements thereon.

The present embodiment of the invention has been disclosed inconsiderable detail merely for the purpose of exemplification, since inactual practice it attains the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the above description.

It is to be understood that by describing in detail herein anyparticular form, structure, or arrangement, it is not intended to limitthe invention beyond the terms of the several claims, or therequirements of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In anilluminated sign, in combination, a supporting arm, straps secured atspaced points to the arm and depending therefrom, an open bottom hoodextending horizontally between the straps and rigidly secured tointermediate portions thereof, spaced, integrally connected, inclinedpartitions disposed in the hood and having their connecting portionformed to provide a channel, a substantially rectangular frame havingits upper portion engaged in the channel, said frame including side andend rails and angle shaped corner pieces connecting said rails together,said frame extending between the straps and the vertical parts of theupper corner pieces being rigidly secured to the lower portion of saidstraps, a sign panel mounted in the frame, and lamps mounted in the hoodfor illuminating the sign panel.

2. In an illuminated sign, in combination, a supporting arm, an openbottomed hood supported thereby, lamps in the hood, a substantiallyrectangular frame having its upper edge supported in the lower part ofthe hood at the center thereof, an extension frame composed of a bottomrail and a pair of end rails, straps connecting the ends of the firstframe to the upper portions of the end rails of the extension frame, andpanels in said frames.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JAMES P. DUNNE.

